2016 Decluttering Thread

[dawnwes]

Please don't think I'm picking on you, but isn't it amazing/disturbing how much trash we accumulate in our homes? Why do we have all of that stuff? If we are willing to throw it away when we're cleaning, what possessed us to save it in the first place?

I've definitely been trying to be much more conscious of what new things I keep to help avoid accumulating new clutter at the same time that I'm getting rid of old clutter.

YES!

Although, to be fair, a lot of it was my kids' stuff they either don't use anymore, doesn't work, old bike helmets, broken toys they kept for some reason, floats for the pool we thought we would repair......

It adds up quickly.

I donate what is still useable, but there is quite a bit that isn't.

[dawnwes]

My clutter got so bad because our house is too big for us. Out of sight, out of mind. Part of the reason why I am decluttering is to put the house up for sale and downsize.

Right there with you on filling up the house with clutter.

We moved from a 1500 sq. ft. house in SoCal to a 4,000 sq. ft. house in NC (for half the price of our SoCal house I might add!) 1,000 sq. ft wasn't finished when we moved in and it became STORAGE!!!!!!!!!

We did finish it, but we still had to have a storage ROOM! A lot of that room is pantry/entertaining/extra fridge, and a lot of it is camping/backpacking supplies as I have 3 boy scouts and need backpacks, tents, hiking stuff, etc......

But it is crazy how much we have accumulated and never purged in 10 years.

[disneysteve]

it is crazy how much we have accumulated and never purged in 10 years.

We've been in our house for 22 years so just multiply that accumulation by 2 (or more).

You find the stupidest stuff, too. Not long ago working the basement, I came across a pair of my daughter's pants from when she was a little kid. They ended up in some pile of stuff that we clearly haven't touched for over 10 years. We weren't saving them for any reason. There was nothing special about them. That's the kind of nonsense that ends up filling space.

[dawnwes]

Today the lady is coming to get the sofa. If she doesn't, there are 2 more interested, so I think it WILL sell this weekend.

My goals for the day:

1. clean up (company coming this evening.)
2. Work on the office.....my next packing up phase

[snafu]

Downsizing is a huge revelation about yourself. Some of us have given ourselves messages about fixing stuff, checking value of stuff no longer used or needed, might be needed/used it in the future, selling old stuff, 'paid good money' for stuff that disappointed, value for money image of ourselves, re-purpose stuff, plan to lose weight & wear again, emotional attachment to inanimate objects, wonderful memories of the past yadda yadda...

I see it as clutter at best, have space. no problem, delayed decisions, possibly hanging on to the past with a modicum of fear of the future, or worse those folks who are trying to fill the holes in their heart with stuff they put themselves in debt to acquire. Those ladies who buy $ 3K shoes and handbags and call them 'investments' leave me bewildered.

Since this complex is old, there are a lot of seniors whose storage crawl space is jammed full of their grown and well launched sons and daughters stuff 'entrusted to their care.' I'll bet the kids have forgotten most and would be hard pressed to name 10 items in the dozens and dozens of boxes.

I suggest anyone who plans to move set protocols for stuff in their new dwellings like new in, old out, new product boxes flat fold or released after 90 days, broken, stained, in need of repair, two pay cycles deadline, plan to sell photo/ad etc and gone within two months, clothes review on seasonal change for example.

I'll never be able to explain it but our homes stays tidier when there is less stuff to look after.

[msomnipotent]

My husband tried to talk me into keeping a power cord that sticks into a lighter last night. It sat in a drawer for 2 years. I suspect it was for a 6 year old cell phone that I recently found. We also have 3 desktop computers, a scanner, several old non-smart phones, 3 copiers, and his parent's desktop computer (I have no idea why) taking up a lot of space. He used a part from an old computer to fix our current one once, so he thinks we should save all electronics "just in case". I'm going to round up my sisters and friends and flood Staples with our junk for recycling while he is at work. I think it will match the epic fight that started after I threw away his drawer full of old knee-high basketball socks right after we got married.

I have also sadly come to the realization that nobody wants my old clothes, no matter how well made they are. I also realized that I wouldn't wear them either, even if I lost weight, so into the donation bag they went. But not before I offered a old pair of Calvin Klein jeans to my sisters and they burst out laughing. I guess whitewashed jeans are out of style.

[disneysteve]

I spent a little time in the basement today. It wasn't a serious attack but I did get a bunch of things into the trash and recycling bins.

[JoeP]

Funny story:

I was going through some boxes a couple weeks ago, and came across a box full of magazines from college. These were the classic student magazine: pulp paper, bad print transfer, ads that were 5th photo generation touched up by a sophomore graphic arts major...and a column at the back by a guy who wrote a sarcastic and cynical post under a pseudonym. Anyway, being a packrat, I had about 80 of these for no reason, and was considering dumping them.

On a lark, I figured out the guy who wrote those columns, and looked him up. He now works for a major newspaper nearby, and was interested in the magazines! So while were were looking at colleges in his city, we arranged a transfer. Bearing in mind this was 30 years later, he was very excited to find copies and thanked me profusely.

It made me feel good that I was able to lose this burden, and give it to someone who cherishes it more now that I do.

[disneysteve]

Funny story:

Great story, Joe.

[dawnwes]

What do I do with the following:

5 older cameras that are worth nothing, but still work (digital when digital first came out.)

A VHS recording camera that uses those little tiny videos to record. The batteries no longer work.

4 old computers that DH doesn't trust anyone to actually wipe clean.

[creditcardfree]

On a lark, I figured out the guy who wrote those columns, and looked him up. He now works for a major newspaper nearby, and was interested in the magazines! So while were were looking at colleges in his city, we arranged a transfer. Bearing in mind this was 30 years later, he was very excited to find copies and thanked me profusely.

I have a similar story. We have owned two high school year books from the same year, same school. One was written in, the other not. We decided after 25 years we didn't need to keep both! The other one is being sent to my husband's sister's best friend, simply because I put a facebook post up to those from our high school. She is super excited!

[disneysteve]

What do I do with the following:

5 older cameras that are worth nothing, but still work (digital when digital first came out.)

A VHS recording camera that uses those little tiny videos to record. The batteries no longer work.

I'd put the 5 digital cameras on ebay either individually or all together as a lot.

Same for the VHS camera.

Set the starting price low and be willing to sell for whatever you get. Just be sure to set the postage price properly so you don't lose money on the deal.

4 old computers that DH doesn't trust anyone to actually wipe clean.

Remove and destroy the hard drives. Then take it all to an electronics recycling drop off. I believe Goodwill accepts that stuff. Your town probably has a place to do that as well. I think Best Buy might also.

[dawnwes]

I'd put the 5 digital cameras on ebay either individually or all together as a lot.

Same for the VHS camera.

Set the starting price low and be willing to sell for whatever you get. Just be sure to set the postage price properly so you don't lose money on the deal.


Remove and destroy the hard drives. Then take it all to an electronics recycling drop off. I believe Goodwill accepts that stuff. Your town probably has a place to do that as well. I think Best Buy might also.

I don't even think after eBay and Paypal fees and box and tape costs, I would break even. I will look though.

[disneysteve]

I don't even think after eBay and Paypal fees and box and tape costs, I would break even. I will look though.

You may not, but I would definitely check to see if they're worth selling. Try and find completed auctions for similar items and see what they're going for.

If it isn't worth it, then just add them to the donation pile.

[disneysteve]

Much of what is in our basement is Disney collectibles from when we used to actively sell at toy and collectible shows. A lot of that stuff isn't really worth much at this point and I've been slowly donating it to fundraising events that we attend to use as raffle and auction prizes. There is a lot, though, that is of value. I listed 4 items on ebay this morning. We'll see how that goes.